How The 3D-Printing Revolution Can Help Remake Local Economic Development To Build & Retain Neighborhood Wealth—In A Virtuous Upward Spiral Of Commercial & Common-Good Success

This first NY3DP Summits session kicks off our week of roundtables—in support of 3DP in our City and State—by focusing on local economic development. Bottom/bottom 3DP line: can our engines of Confab’ing and Clustering help drive Job Creation via Additive Manufacturing in the neighborhood?

With the distributed power of disruptive (and opportunity-presenting!) 3DP, the hyperlocal is where the action is. The local Economic Development Organization (EDO: think BID or Merchant Block) is now empowered to help re-industrialize the Nabes—kitchen table by walk-up by storefront.

This Roundtable will examine such novel concepts as how to enable EDOs—local, Borough-based and/or City-wide—to employ, educate around and deploy 3DP knowledge, how-to and implementable strategy/tactics to 3DP empower their community constituents. How might the new workforce of “Techcreatives”—the Digital Yeomanry of Sci/Art—help infuse local communities with commercializing 3DP? Can we expand our City talent pool with STE(A)M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art/Design, Math) education at every level? The Roundtable will consider the business leverage of Curious Benchmates—found in such local phenomena as the blend of handmade Etsy-esque and organic 3DP and New Lab “re-artisan’ing” via rapid prototyping and short-run production on ultra-tech laser-sintering 3D printers. Conferees will confer on how 3DP might supercharge the Brooklyn core commercial competencies of Furniture, Fashion and Food. The Roundtable will consider how new and vibrant Public/Private Partnerships for collaboration and advocacy can support our new urban (re)industrialization. Think Pratt Center’s (Adam Friedman!) Urban Manufacturing Alliance and “Made In NYC” initiative. Or, New Lab’s imminent expansion into the now a-building creative spaces of the Green Manufacturing Center at the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s BLDG 128. Finally, how can hyper-local 3DP integration with small business and community economic development help drive our Gotham industrial-segment “cluster-ization”—and assist NYC to build the world’s premier Additive Manufacturing Cluster or 3DP commercial ecosystem?

Roundtable Session (6pm to 8:30pm)– A discussion of the topic by industry experts and economic development organization representatives. Land Grant will moderate.

Reception (8:30pm – 9pm) – An opportunity to network and followup on the roundtable discussion with panelists and fellow attendees.

Registration for this event is limited to 25 attendees. Secure your ticket below.

Roundtable presenters include:

Adam Friedman – Director, Pratt Center for Community Development - Adam Friedman is the third director in the Pratt Center’s nearly fifty year history. He is one of New York City’s leading advocates in support of manufacturing and the employment opportunities it brings. As founding executive director of the New York Industrial Retention Network (NYIRN), since 1997 he has led efforts to strengthen the city’s manufacturing sector and promote sustainable development. Previously, Friedman served as executive director of the Garment Industry Development Corporation and director of economic development for Borough Presidents David Dinkins and Ruth Messinger. He has also taught urban planning courses at Pratt Institute and Columbia University.

Hutch Hutchison – Program Director, Virtual Design and Prototype, High Tech Rochester|NYS MEP - Hutch has enjoyed a diverse manufacturing career, from Steelworker to CEO. His latest ventures include working for the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership, developing a service to provide “virtual” design and prototype resources to manufacturers to facilitate new product development. With such immersion in Prototype,he has developed expertise in Additive Manufacturing, and is undertaking a MEP mission to educate manufacturers in the technology, and advise them on how to adopt 3-D printing into their workflow.

Lizabeth Arum - Education Coordinator for the Makerbot Foundation & “Design Thinking” (via 3DP) Teacher at Saint Anne’s School. Lizabeth Arum has a BFA from Cooper Union and an MPS from NYU’s ITP. As an artist, maker, and educator, Arum develops project-based curricula that foster innovation and creativity. Her work at the MakerBot Foundation and MakerBot Industries facilitated teacher networks and helped educators harness the potential of 3D technologies. She currently teaches Physical Computing and Computer Science at Saint Ann’s in Brooklyn and is a member of NYCResistor. Painting still happens when she can find a moment.

Alexandria Sica — Executive Director, DUMBO Improvement District - At DUMBO ID, Alexandria oversees the organization’s operations, marketing and advocacy efforts. Alexandria works with local stakeholders as well as government partners to increase investment in DUMBO; oversees programs such as street beautification, maintenance of public spaces, events programming and free public WiFi. Advocacy efforts include support for local cultural organizations, public investment to rehabilitate neighborhood streets and cobblestones and land use policies that support a vibrant local economy and maintain DUMBO’s heritage as a creative enclave. Formerly, Alexandria served as a senior director at The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s Access to the Region’s Core (ARC) Project office and also worked for US Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) in both his communications department and his legislative department as the director of economic development.

Ernie Spears — Executive Director, Brooklyn Business Center, a member of the St. Nick’s Alliance - Ernie Spears has been a small business advisor, for St Nick’s Alliance – Brooklyn Business Center for more than eight years. He teaches clients how to write business plans, increase revenues and secure funding. He has an MBA and has worked in the magazine publishing industry for Times Mirror and Conde Nast. Mr. Spears is also an entrepreneur and is experienced in raising capital from angel investors. He lives in NYC and enjoys helping people reach their personal and professional goals.

JF Brandon – DShape, 3Di – JF Brandon is an everyman in 3D Printing and Modelling. He is known for his work with the NYCEDC and DShape, developing printed encasements for waterfront piers, 3D printing in lesser developed countries like Bolivia, the Makeraser (a multi-tool for 3D printers, an All-in-One product that makes your printer and prints better) and the Makelastic (a safe chemical dip for rubberizing PLA prints). He is also Chief Strategy Officer for 3Di, a UK company that has developed a revolutionary 3D Search Engine. He lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Sarah Feingold – Counsel, Etsy Inc. – Born an artist, Sarah Feingold decided that the best way to protect creative folk like herself was to go to law school. She currently serves as counsel of Etsy, Inc. (etsy.com) and specializes in intellectual property, business and ecommerce law. When she’s not practicing law, she’s speaking or writing about legal issues (Sarah penned the ebook “Copyright for Artists”) or hammering silver in her tiny Brooklyn apartment kitchen (check out Sarah’s jewelry at www.feingoldjewelry.com).

DUMBO Startup Lab is a community hub for entrepreneurs, designers and innovators focused on tech & web development. We provide coworking space, networking and collaboration opportunities and host classes and events in our beautiful 2,300 sq. ft. corner loft. Our goal is to provide a synergetic, educational and collaborative environment that connects members with NYC’s Silicon Alley, while harnessing the growth and identity of Brooklyn’s own innovation ecosystem.